Pumping Up The Press Conference Volume and West Ham’s Hopes of Putting A Needle On Arsenal’s Unbeaten Home Record

The most (or only) entertaining part of watching a West Ham pre-match press conference is attempting to match up the answers given with the media questions you haven’t been able to hear. There’s possibly be a new ‘Guess The Question’ game show format in there somewhere!

The club’s media team obviously don’t read – or aren’t interested in reading – the torrent of comments which universally condemn the inaudibility of the questions each time a presser is streamed online. In these days of digital communications, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, it wouldn’t be rocket surgery (sic) to install the necessary technology. Failing that a minion could be brought in to pass a microphone among the assembled reporters. Something to keep Danny Ings occupied, perhaps. The tin-pottery of the event does nothing to dispel the impression of a Board that is all show and no substance.

Graham Potter appeared a little less confident – less convincing – about what he was saying this time around. His customary grin not quite reaching his eyes, let alone his brain. Was it the enormity of the task facing his team at the Emirates today? Or a realisation that the whole idea of pre-match press conferences is largely futile where nothing of importance will be divulged? A case of going through the motions in response to essentially the same questions every week. Questions that could just as easily be answered by an AI support bot – ChatGP. “This or that player is still working on his recovery  or is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes”; “We’ve had a good week on the training ground, the attitude in the squad is positive although there is plenty more work to do.”; “It’s a difficult place to go to and get a result, the opposition manager has done a great job.”

Today’s visit to Arsenal is a chance for the Hammers to contribute a minor supporting role in determining the destination of the Premier League title. The Gunners being the only team able to mount a credible challenge to runaway leaders, Liverpool. With a home win seeing the gap at the top close to five points – at least until tomorrow – the hosts need no more incentive to be motivated. Only the most optimistic Hammer would likely forecast an alternative outcome, even if away performances have generally been more encouraging than those seen at home. Unless that is, the backs-to-the-wall upset of last season’s 2-0 victory can strike for a second year in succession.  

The faint glimmer of hope in the game is Arsenal’s relative lack of quality in the final third. In their game at Leicester last weekend, they struggled to break down what is now the league’s worst defence until the closing stages. With several striking options absent through injury, it was shocking to see what a pale imitation of his former self Sterling had become. Only the introduction of Merino as makeshift striker finally turned the tide.

While the Gunners regularly fail to impress in attack, they are rock solid in every other department. The meanest of the league’s defences and a consistent, well-balanced midfield three that blends power, pace and artistry. An added irony has been the development of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri as first team players – two of the Arsenal side defeated by West Ham in the 2023 FA Youth Cup Final. By contrast, only Ollie Scarles from the victorious Hammer’s side has looked the part in east London.

For the trip to north London, Potter must do without the services of Lucas Paqueta who picked up an ankle injury in training and joins Michail Antonio, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Vladimir Coufal on the sidelines.

In each of the last two away games, the coach has opted for a 3-4-3 formation, and I wonder if he will be tempted to do the same again. Assuming a low block is against Potter’s instincts he needs to find some way to match up with Arsenal in midfield and minimise the influence of Odegaard and Rice. It’s a tall order with little in the way of pace, mobility and athleticism available to him.

Eventual team selection may depend on Potter’s assessment of whether Jean-Clair Todibo and Evan Ferguson are ready to start. That a player may be unable to last the full 90 minutes is no reason to automatically put him on the bench. If both are fit to feature, then it should be from the start. There’s no point in waiting until we are a goal or two down.

Fear of the Arsenal set piece threat may well convince Potter to persist with the lumbering Tomas Soucek in a midfield that includes Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse. What a woeful lack of creativity that would deliver. For me, Carlos Soler in the middle would provide a better, if not ideal, balance – but never stick him out on the left wing again.

A starting eleven perhaps then of Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Todibo, Scarles, JWP, Alvarez, Soler, Bowen, Ferguson, Kudus. And more than a mere five minute cameo for Luis Guilherme please.

Arsenal boast the only unbeaten home record in the Premier League this season. The probability of that record being at risk this afternoon would appear very low. An encouraging performance is required more than anything and, who knows, we could add to the four draws that have already been witnessed at the Emirates in the current campaign.

Taking at least a modicum of momentum into Thursday’s home encounter with Leicester will be important; if only to dispel any lingering concerns over relegation battles. COYI!